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(No Model.)

P. T. DODGE. MECHANISM FOR JUSTIFYING MATRICES, TYPE, 81:0. No. 444,337. Patented Jan. 6, 1891.

' UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

PHILIP T. DODGE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MECHANISM FOR JUSTIFYING MATRICES, TYPE, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. M4337, dated January 6, 1891.

Appiication filed October 8, 1839- Serial No. 326,819. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP T. DODGE, of \Vashingtomin theDistrict of Columbia, have invented certain Improvements in Mechanism for Justifying Matrices, Types, &c., of which the following is a specification.

At the present day it is a common practice to use as a substitute for ordinary printingtype, which represent singlech aracters, linotypes, so called, each consisting of a single bar or type bearing on its edge in proper sequence and relation the characters or type to print an entire line of a page or column. These linotypes are produced 1n a machine controlled by finger-keys, which momentarily assemble a series of female type or matrices representing the required characters in line against the open front of a mold, which is thereafter supplied with molten metal, so that the resulting bar or linotype formed in the mold receives on itsedge the characters represented by the matrices.

Custom demands that the lines of apage or column shall be of equal length, and as it is impossible in the linotype-machine to so space between the words in advance that the line shall be of the precise length demanded it becomes necessary to change the spacing after the line of matrices is assembled or composed, or, in other words, to justify the line, as 1t'1s technically termed. My inventlon is directed not only to this justification, but also to the closure of the mold where the spaces occur in the line of matrices, so that the molten metal may not escape between the matrices; and to this end it consists, broadly, 1n a compressible space adapted to be set into the line of matrices and having a solid or imperforate face of heat-resisting material to close the mold; also in a long compressible space d1- vided in sections, lengths, or spaces of successively-diminishing thickness, so that it may be moved endwise until it presents 11113118 line approximately the thickness demanded, and thereafter compressed bypressure applied to the ends of the line, or, if compressed at the time of its introduction, permitted to expand and complete the justification; also in various minor details pertaining to the spacebar, and means for operating the same.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s a perspective view of my compressible space in its most simple form. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my stepped compressible spacebar. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same on the line am. Fig. 4c is an outline elevation showing a line of matrices with my space-bars inserted therein, together with means for advancing the bars and compressing the line, the parts being viewed from the plane cc 00', Fig. 5, in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 3 y, Fig. 4, showing alsothe casting mechanism. Fig; 6 is a cross-section of the space-bar, showing a modification.

For the purposes of illustration I have shown my improvements adapted more especially for use in connection with what are known as the Mergenthaler linotype-machines, illustrated in various Letters Patent of the United States heretofore granted to Ottmar Mergenthaler; but it is to be understood that the parts may be modified to adapt them for use in any analogous machine, and for use in machines containing male type or dies used to produce aligned matrices in papier-mach or similar material.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the matrices, each consisting of aflat plate of brass or similar material, provided at its upper end with suspending-shoulders (t, and in one edge with the intagliocharacter or Inatrixproper a.

Bare the spaces. In Fig. 1 this space is made of marginal form and size corresponding to the matrices, so that it maybe set into the line with the matrices, and is composed of two side plates of metal I). b and an intermediate layer of slightlyelastic material adapted to withstand momentarily the action of the molten type-metal. This material may consist of asbestus, asbestus and rubber, rubher and plumbago, or asbestus, rubber, and plumbago, or of other equivalent compounds, the only requirement being that it shall possess a moderate degree of elasticity, and that it shall resist the molten metal, so as to act in the same manner as the matrices in closing the face of the mold.

Spaces such as shown in Fig. 1 I propose to use mainly where a large portion of the line is to be filled with spaces, or, in other words, to be printed in blank.

For ordinary spaces between words I prefor the form shown in Fig. 9, in which the space is greatly elongated and provided at its upper end with sustaining-shoulders b serving, like those of the matrices, to suspend the space between the matrices in their guide or support while the line is being composed.

. The space is composed, as shown, of a number of sections of successively -increasing thickness from the upper to the lower end of the space. Each of these sections is of uniform thickness throughout, and is connected with the next by an interveninginclined face I), which enables the space to be forced endwise through the line of matrices, so that the several sections maybe brought successively in operative position into the line. This stepped space-bar is divided or slotted internally from the front to the rear edge, and contains a thin layer of the compressible metalresisting material 1), similar to that referred to in connection with the first form of space. This elastic material may extend throughout the space from one end to the other; but I prefer to have the uppermost section representing the minimum space of solid metal, as shown in Fig. 52, so that the compressibility is confined to the remaining sections.

In order to prevent the splitting or opening of the space, I propose to pass rivets b" therethrough, as shown in Fig. 3, the rivets being countersunk and left free at one end, in order that they may yield when the bar is compressed.

In order to prevent the molten metal from coming in contact with the compressible material, the divided space having the com presst ble material therein may have one of its sides arranged to overlap the vertical edge of the other, as shown in Fig. 6.

C represents a vertically-slotted guide or support in which the matrices and space-bars are aligned and supported, the matrices having their shoulders seated in grooves in the side walls of the guide to prevent them from rising, while the space-bars have their shoulders seated on top of the guide, so that they maybe forced upward through the line of matrices.

D and 1') represent, respectively, stationary and movable jaws or clamps arranged to act against opposite ends of the line. The jaw D is actuated by the toggle (Z d, the latter member having an angular arm 01*, which engages a rotary cam d, by the action of which the clamp D is advanced and retracted at proper time.

E is the mold, containing the slot or mold proper e, in which the linotype is formed. This mold is arranged in position to receive the line of matrices and space-bars across its front, as shown.

I" is a melting-pot, the mouth of which is arranged to close the rear face of the mold, and provided with a deliver *-ductf, through which the molten metal is delivered by a pump f into the mold.

The operation is as follows: The line of matrices is assembled by hand or by any suitable composing mechanism, many of which are now known in the art. From time to time during its composition the space-bars are inserted into the line at the proper points, the bars and the spaces being both suspended from the guides or supports C. The justification may thus be effected either by advancing the space-bars through the line until it is expanded to or beyond the predetermined limit and thereafter closing the columns, so as to compress and hold the line at the proper length, or it may be effected by first closing the clamp to its final position and then forcibly advancing the space-bars until they are compressed tightly within the line. It will be observed that undereithcr procedure the space-bars will under more or less compression fill out the line to the required limit and tightly close the mold between the adjacent matrices.

Good results may be obtained by introducing the thick ends of the space-bars in the line in the first instance, thus spacing the line out beyond the required length and thereafter withdrawing the spaces, as maybe required, in order to permit the reduction in the length of the line; but this method of justification by withdrawing the spaces is not in itself claimed herein, the same being claimed in my application Serial No. 330,684.

I believe myself to be the first to employ, in connection with a mold and matrices closing the same, compressible spaces which tightly close the mold between the matrices to prevent the escape of the material in the mold, and it is to be distinctly understood that I broadly claim this feature in any form the mechanical equivalent of those herein shown.

The composing mechanism and the details of the supporting, clamping, and casting devices are not of the essence of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with a'line of matrices and means for compressing the same endwise, elastic compressible spaces seated in the line and presenting between the fronts of the matrices imperforate faces of heat-resisting material, whereby said spaces are adapted to permit justification of the line by compression, and also adapted to prevent the flow of molten metal between the matrices.

2. In a linotype-machine, a mold and mechanism for supplying the same with molten metal, in combination with a row of matrices and intermediate elastic compressible spaces of non-combustible material co-operating with the matrices to close the mold, and mechanism acting to compress the line endwise, whereby the justifieation of the line and the prevention of the leakage of metal are both effected.

3. In combination with aseries of matrices, supports to maintain the same in line, a series of elongated compressible spaces of in creasing thickness from one end toward the other, mounted in and movable endwise through the line, and means for compressing the line endwise, whereby the justification of the line maybe approximately efiected by moving the spaces endwise and thereafter completed by compressing the spaceslaterally.

4. In combination with the elongated metallic space-bar of varying thicknesses, as shown, the internal compressible material.

5. In combination with the elastic material therein, the metal space-bar constructed of Varying" thicknesses, as described, with the metal overlapped at the edge to cover the elastic material.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my I 5 hand, this 7th day of October, 1889, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

PHILIP T. DODGE.

Witnesses:

W. R. KENNEDY, W. W. MORTIMER. 

